Friday, October 11, 2013

Because someone has to: School the House Rock (video)

Roy Zimmerman uploaded this video to help out during the shutdown, pointing out how easy it is to remember that there are three branches of government, just like the three corners of their revolutionary hats.

You dress up like a Founding FatherSo you might think you'd botherTo read the Constitution in your pocketBut you need some schooling, so let's rock it!

There are three branchesThree branches of governmentThree branches of governmentLike the three corners of your hat

That should make it easier for you to remember.

There's the legislative branch - that would be youThe Executive Branch - that's ... You-Know-WhoAnd then there's the branch that you call the Ju...DiciaryAnd that's necessary for the

Checks and balancesChecks and balances among the three branchesThree branches of governmentLike the three corners of your hat

With me so far?

Now, you can pass a bill, and when you doIt's signed into law by you-know-whoOr vetoed, and then it comes back to youAnd you might override it, But once it's been decided it's a law

Yes, it's the law of the land, and all the negotiations and compromises have happened already.

Now you may say the law's "Unconstitutional"Then the Constitution tells us the solution'll beTo take the question of its constitutionalityTo the Supreme Court to decide it's ultimate legality

Now you can repeal a law, unless you try 42 times and you don't have the votes. But you can't find a law unconstitutional; that power belongs to the Judicial Branch. And withholding funding from a law you don't like is, in effect, vetoing that law. And funding only certain parts of the law is an attempt to exercise a line-item veto. You don't have the power to veto; that power belongs to the Executive Branch. So, if the Legislative Branch - that's you - usurps the power to determine constitutionality and the veto power, what's really being vetoed is the Rule of Law. And what's really being compromised is the Constitution. Still with me?

So you can pass a bill, and when you doIf you cry "Boo hoo, it's unconstitu...tional," then try to veto it, well here's a clue:Your hat only has one point

That's the School the House Rock That's the School the House RockH/T: Veracity Stew